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L. VON ORTH. ELECTRIC SIGNALING APPARATUS.

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LUDW'IG VON ORTII, OF BERLIN, GERMANY.

ELECTRIC SIGNALING APPARATUS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 491,7' 58, dated February 14, 1893.

Application led April 14, 1892. Serial No. 429.212. (No model.) Patented in France October 21, 1891, No, 216,816; in Belgium October 21, 1891, No. 96,885; in Norway October 21,1891,No.2,472,a11di11 Italy December 3l, 1891, XXV, 30,625,1IX. 109.

To @ZZ whom t may concern,.-

Be it known that I, LUDWIG VON ORTH, a subject of the King of Wrtemberg, residing at Berlin, Prussia, Germany, have invented new and useful Improvements in Electric Signaling Apparatus for Use with a Network of Electrical Lines or Conductors, (for which I have obtained Letters Patent in Italy, Reg. Gen., Vol. 25, No. 30,625, Reg. Att., Vol. 60, No.109, dated December 31, 1891; in France, No. 216,816, dated October 2l, 1891; in Belgium, No. 96,885, dated October 2l, 1891, and in Norway, No. 2,472, dated October 2], 1891,) of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to anovel construction and arrangement of apparatus whereby one or more predetermined signals can be sent from any point of a net work of electrical lines to a station electrically connected with this network. A telephonie net for instance may thus be used for transmitting fire and other signals in an automatic manner to a telephonic intermediate station and from thence to another station. Any desired number of subscribers telephonie apparatus within a given district may be so connected as to enable signals to be sent through a single telephonie circuit common to the district. The construction and arrangement of the apparatus is such that the telephonie trafiic will not be impeded, as signals cannot be sent oft as long as the telephonie circuit is engaged for conversation. On the other hand, from the moment when a signal has been sent oit until the same has been received, the telephonic circuit cannot be used for conversation. It is moreover impossible to send oft signals simultaneously from dilerent subscribers ofces connected to the same circuit, so that any error which might otherwise oc cur at the station by confounding the signals, is completely avoided. Furthermore the person desiring to send off a signal can ascertain Whether the signal has been transmitted or Whether the circuit is in use; in the former case the receipt of the signal is acknowledged from the station and in the latter case the signal key does not remain depressed.

In Order to attain the above mentioned objects, an apparatus herein called a signal transmitter is provided for a given district,

diagrammatically illustrates the apparatus and connections employed, and Fig. 2 illustrates a modiiied form and connections for the signal transmitter.

In the diagrams I have shown two subscribers oiiices, say for example Nos. 294c and 923, electrically connected With the signal transmitter, each ofliee being provided With two keys for giving two diierent signals, for instance Fire and Physician. Any desired larger number of subscribers oices maybe electrically connected with the signal transmitter, in a similar manner and any desired number' of signals may be sent oi as will be hereinafter more fully described.

.The signal transmitter carries upon ashaft 7L driven by a train of ordinary wheel-work,a

number of conducting disks, the peripheries of which are provided Vwith projecting teeth corresponding to Morse letters; there is arranged for each oflice connected with the signal transmitter a disk marked with the number of the oiiice, and for each signal to be sent a separate disk is provided. In the apparatus shown there are therefore four disks the Morse letters of which signify 294, 923, Fire and Physician Corresponding to each disk there isaspring coutactarm fand an electromagnet E. When one of the latter attracts its armature c, an insulated arm 2J secured to the armature presses the corresponding spring contact arm f into contact with the corresponding disk so that when this disk is revolved by the shaft h and wheelwork, currents of relatively diierent lengths or duration and corresponding to the Morse code, will be sent from the battery B to the spring contact S. The arrangement of the inscription upon the disks is such that the signs corresponding to the signals Fire, Physician &c.are displaced the one in relation to the other and in relation to the signals corresponding to the numbers so that the called signals and the number of the subscribers oiiice will be sent ott consecutively.

The armatures e of the electro-magnets E IOO corresponding to the numbered disks are also connected to a second arm lwhich in its position of rest is in contact with a spring contact n but which when the armature c is attracted bears against a spring contact m and breaks contact with the contact n. The shaft h also carries an insulated disk O formed with a recess d. In the rest position of this disk a boss v', secured to a spring contact arm QJ enters this recess. The circuit to the telephone station is thenconnected by the contant arm c and the screw alto the telephone apparatus. When the shaft h revolves, the contact arm n is pressed against the screw y and by this means the circuit to the telephone station is electrically connected with the contact S. At each revolution the contact arm u returns once to and in so doing touches a spring a so that for a moment the circuit is electrically connected with a relay R. The keys T consist each of an electromagnet, the armature 15 of which is secured to a pivcted arm that can bemoved downward bythe per-A son desiring' to send a signal by means of a ring r fastened to a cord so that a contact c will be closed. Y

Assuming the signal Fire has to be sent ott from the subscribers ofce 294: the caller for this purpose pulls down the ring o* of the corresponding key T thereby closing a circuit that passes from the local battery L B through the electro-magnet E corresponding to the disk Fire of the signal transmitter, then through the electro-magnet of the key pressed down and the contact c of the same, t-hen through the electro-magnet E of the disk No. 291, the corresponding lever Z and contact n, thence through a contact piece arranged on the telephone hook H, through a contactg controlled by an electro-magnet K, and through the rest contact of the relay R back to the local battery. When a conversation is taking place over the line, this circuit will be broken at H, and the electro-magnet E cannot therefore be excited at this time and the ring r will rise again under the action of a spring or weight thereby indicating that the telephone line is in use. When however the telephone is suspended on the hook at H, the circuit mentioned is closed and the armaturet of the key T will remain attracted. The electromagnets E of the disks Fire and 294: will attract their armature e and press the corresponding contact arms f against the disks. Thearmature c of the electro-magnet corresponding to disk 294 at the same time moves the armZ away from the spring In and into contact with the contact m whereby the electro-magnet K is placed in the local circuit and excited. This electro-magnet then attracts its armature thus breaking the contact at g and by means of a pawl t' releases the wheelwork for driving the shaft h of the signal transmitter. A signal cannot now be sent from another subscribers oflice because the circuit from the keys at the other subscribn ers office No. 923 through the electro-magnet E of the disk No. 923 and the corresponding contacta is broken at g. In addition to the signal Fire the same subscribers office No. 294e can also send off the signal Physician While the apparatus is operating to send a signal it cannot be put out of action by lifting oit the telephone, e'. e. by breaking the circuit at H. As the shaft I-I revolves, the contact arm n bears against the screw y and currents then pass from the battery B through the springs f, the disks Fire and 294; the shaft h, the contact S, the contact arm c and the circuit to the intermediate telephone station, where the indicator shutter will fall and thus call attention. As soon as the attendant at this station has put in circuit his apparatus, he will hear the characteristic ticking of the telephone diaphragm corresponding to the Morse letters thereby indicating that a signal is being sent off and he can therefore in the known way put the desired station in circuit, where the alarm signal arranged on the telephone case will sound. The attendant at this station by taking off the telephone will hear the ticking of the telephone diaphragm and by leading the circuit through a Morse apparatus can receive the signal. He then sends into the line from the central station a current which, as soon as the contact arm o comes into contact with the spring contact a which takes place once for each revolution of the disk O or the shaft 77 iiows through the relay R kwhich then breaks the local circuit at G. All the electromagnets E ot the signal transmitter and also that of the key T then cease to be energized, the wheelwork is arrested and the armature t of the key T that was operated swings upward thus indicating that the signal has been received.

In the case of a tire signal, the attendant at the central station can send the signal directly, by reversing, to the tire brigade oflice. In this case the counter-current to etlect the stoppage of the wheelwork and serving to acknowledge the receipt of the signal may be sent oft' directly from the iirevbrigade ofiice instead of from the central office.

/Vhen for the signal transmitter a telephonic net is not used and a special conduct- IOO IIO

ing wire net is employed, it is not necessary to arrange from the central station a special circuit for cach signal transmitter, but any optional number of signal transmitters may be connected with branchesof the same circuit. alter the construction of the device for reversing the line circuit while the local circuit remains as above described. In this case the line circuit is insulated on all the terminal points while the signal transmitter is at rest. When the latter is in activity, the relay is first put into circuit and in consequence thereof the local circuit is immediately interrupted again, if at the same time another transmitter inserted into the circuit is in activity so that any error which may occur at For this purpose it is only necessary to the central station by confounding the signals is completely avoided. In order that in this case the signal transmitter which last has been put in activity, be surely put out of circuit, indifferently in which state of revolution the signal transmitter put first out of circuit may be at this instant, the construction is arrangedin such a manner, that, after a signal transmitter has been put out of circuit, the circuit is first, for a certain space of time, say during halt' arevolutionot the shaft H electrically connected with the relay and then only with the shaft H and is then connected up to the breaking only once at each.

evolution for a very short time with the re- Fig. 2 shows the modification by which the above described purpose is attained.

The insulated disk O is of such a shape, that at the rest position of the signal transmitter the contact arm V is between the contacts X and Y, the circuit is therefore insulated. When the disk O revolves, the contact arm V is placed first against the contact X during half a revolution, then it is pressed by a nose o of the disk O for an instant against the contact Y. Both the contacts X and Y are connected with the relay R. When a current is sent into the circuit by another signal transmitter, while the contact arm V is lying on X or Y,` the local current is immediately broken again and the contact arm V returns from the contact Y into its central position. The Wheelwork stops after having effected one revolution. But when the circuit is not engaged and the local current remains closed, the armature of the electro-magnet K carrying the stop hook Iis excited. This armature is provided with a nose q which, as long as the armature is excited, is raised to such an extent that the contact arm V at its return from contact Y is placed against the nose. The current can now flow from the shaft to the contact arm Vand to the circuit, which is arranged in such a manner that this circuit is not electrically connected with the local circuit passing at G, through the same armature. The contact arm V is lying during the greater part of the revolution on the nose Q and is placed only for a short time at each revolution by the nose of the disk D on the contact Y, t'. c. the relay.

I claim-- 1. In a telephone system or other net-work of wires, an interpolated signaling apparatus consisting of signal keys located at the subscribers offices for the several signals, a sign nal transmitter inserted into the existing net- Work, and composed of a shaft carrying disks corresponding to the numbers of the subscribers offices, and one or more disks corresponding to the signals to be transmitted, a motor for operating the transmitter normally held out of action, a local batterys the circuit of which is closed by the keys at the subscribers offices, a contact arm for each disk, electro-magnets E for bringing the contact arms offices, electro-magnets having their armatures attached to the keys, a signal transmitter containing rotary signal disks and contact arms f for the same, a motor normally held out of m action by a detent, an electro-magnet K acting on said detent for releasing the motor when vitalized, a switch Ov playing between contactsa: y, and adapted to engage momentari] y with a contact z, and a relay R vitalized by the closing of the circuit atzto break the circuit of the local battery L B through the keyT andthe electro-magnet K; whereby the key at the subscribers office is released to indicate that the signal has been received, and the motion of the motor is arrested, substantially as described.

3. In an apparatus of the character specified, the combination of the transmitter, its electro magnets E, switches playing between contacts m m, normally in contact with contacts n, signal keys at the subscribers oiiices,

and an electro-magnet K having its coil in the circuit of the local battery and its armature g in electrical connection with the contacts m, whereby the closing of the circuit at one of the subscribers offices causes the electromagnets E to be vitalized to close the circuit through the electro-magnet K, breaking the circuit over its armature g and thereby preventing asecond subscribers office from sending a signal, substantially as described.

4. In a telephone system or other net Work of Wires, an interpolated signaling apparatus embodying signal keys K located at the subscribers offices,a signal transmitter including in its construction circuit closers and actuating electro-magnets E for the same, combined with means for preventing telephonie conversation from being interrupted by the sending of a signal, consisting of suspension hooks H for the receivers placed in the circuit of the local battery and arranged to normally close the circuit through the signal keys and the electro-magnets E of the signal transmitter by the Weight of the suspended receiver, and to automatically break said circuit when the receiver is removed, substantially as described. 5. In a telephone system or other net work of wires, an interpolated signaling apparatus embodying signal keys K at the subscribers offices, a signal transmitter having an intermittent rotary shaft 7?. combined with means for preventing a signal from being interrupted by a telephonie conversation consisting of the disk O secured to the shaft h, a switch v y a:

IIO

IZO

shaft 7L, to break the telephonie circuit at :c

Y the main line, substantially and establish the connection of lthe transmitter with the main line at c y,si'ibstantially as described.

6. The signal transmitter herein described, consisting of a shaft carrying disks corresponding to the number of the subscribers offices and to the signals to be sent, a contact arm for each disk, an electro magnet for each arm, an insulated disk O provided with a recess and a contact arm, a main contact S, and a motor, substantially as described.

7. In a telephone system or other net-Work of wires, the combination of signal keys at the subscribers oflices, a signal transmitter at the district station provided with a series of disks corresponding to the numbersY of the subscribers offices and with one or more disks corresponding to the signals to be transmitted, a motor for the transmitter normally heid out of action, a contact arm f for each disk, electro-magnets E having their armatures in op-` erative connection with the contact arms, an electro-magnet K, a contact operated by the suspension device for the receiver of the telephone, switches operated by the closing of the circuit through the electro-magnets' E to close the circuit through the electro-magnet K,

and thereby causing the release of the motor of the transmitter and thebreakage of the circuit through the remaining offices; electromagnets T acting on the signal keys at the subscribers otticesga switch normally closing the circuit through the main 1ine,but breaking the same during the operation of the transmitter, and a relay R for breaking the circuit through the electro-magnets and signal keys when a return signal is sent from as described.

8. In a telephone system or other net-Work of wires, an interpolated signaling apparatus consisting of signal keys at the subscribers offices, a signal transmitter inserted into the existing net-Work and comprising a shaft car- ;rying disks for the numbers of the several subscribers offices and signal disks, said disks being provided with projecting teeth corresponding to letters of the Morse alphabet, a

motor for operating the transmitter, normally y disks when vitalized,'all substantially as and for the purpose set forth.'

9. In an apparatus of the character specified, the combination of signal devices at the subscribers ofilces, a' signal transmitter, a motor for the saine normally held out ot' action, electrical connections for disengaging the motor on sending asignal from a subscribers office, a .disk O carried by the'transinitter, the contact arm c, the contact x, and therelay R, all arrangedand connected to automatically arrest the motion of the motor at'teru receipt of the signal, by the passage of the return signal, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have signed my naine to this specification in the presence ot' two subscribing witnesses.

LUDWIG VON ORTH.

Wit n esses:

EDUARD PEITZ, GUs'rAv HLSMANN. 

